AAOOOSC! Wheatie Bits!

E. 9. "Nolan's Birthday Crash" (6/6)

The next morning...

Nolan flutters his striking eyes open, gradually becoming more awake. "Hm...?"

Confusion crosses his face as he takes in the living room wall and ceiling staring back at him.

"Oh, I'm in the living room." He slowly sits up and runs his fingers through his flawless hair. "Why am I in the living room?" He slowly swings his legs to the edge of the sofa and stands up.

After getting ready for the day, Nolan saunters into the kitchen with a suspicious expression. "Hey guys, what happened—?"

"HAPPY GOLDEN BIRTHDAY, PAT!" Kale and Reid shout with hands in the air, wearing cone party hats.

Nolan instantly halts in his tracks with wide eyes, staring at the sight of the kitchen. The walls are decorated with gold, white, and black-coloured streamers and balloons. Displayed on the surface is a grand chocolate cake topped with raspberries with a special addition of powdered sugar.

Nolan's naturally rosy cheeks intensify in colour and a big grin grows on his face as he takes in the surprise. "AWWW, THANK YOU SO MUCH, GUYS!" He prances up to the two and gives them a massive hug all together.

They then pull away from each other.

"Of course!" Kale tells him with a toothy grin. "You deserve it!"

Reid plucks a birthday hat from the countertop. "The golden birthday boy deserves the best!" He places it on Nolan's head, making Nolan adjust it. "And we made you a gluten-free, dairy-free cake!"

Nolan twirls to the cake with excited eyes. "It's my favourite one!" He turns back to the two. "You guys baked it just for me?" He slaps his hands over his chest at the heartwarming gesture.

Kale cannot wipe the smile off his face. "Yup! Although it took some trial and errors, we managed."

Reid throws an index finger in the air and chirps in a weary tone, "It was worth it!"

Nolan peers down at it, spotting some of the raspberries lying on their sides rather than upside down on the uneven, frosted surface of the cake. "Although it's not picture perfect, it's the thought that counts!" He whirls back to them with a proud smile.

"Well, wanna try it out?" Reid asks, holding his hands out at him.

Nolan drops his smile as suspicion crosses his face. "Wait, cake for breakfast...?" He pauses, his elated expression becoming visible again. "That sounds AMAZING!" He squeals while clapping vigorously and bouncing up and down. "Yes!"

"I'll grab the candles!" Kale slips away from them, heading across the kitchen toward an upper cabinet.

Reid has an excited grin at the golden birthday boy. "After we sing Happy Birthday, someone shared me this birthday chant I really wanna share with you!"

Kale chuckles behind them with his back on them. "Oh goodness, not that chant."

Nolan rolls his eyes with his hands on his hips. "Obviously, you'd be the one to find a birthday chant."

Kale steps back to them with a box of candles in his hands. "Okay, found the candles." He places nineteen candles on the perimeter of the cake and lights them up with a match.

He then turns to Nolan and says, "One, two and—"

Kale and Reid begin to sing happy birthday off-key, thanks to Reid.

Happy birthday to you...
Happy birthday to you...
Happy golden birthday dear Pat-Doctor Pat....
Happy birthday to you...!

Nolan stares back at them with pursed lips in a daze. "That was so emotional. I was moved."

"Wait..." Reid takes in a deep breath, building up the birthday chant.

He signals the letters he cheers out with his arms above his head. "H! To the A! To the double P, Y!" He then slides perpendicular to Nolan and rocks his arms up and down. "B-I-R-T-H-D-A-Y!"

He spins back to face the birthday boy and points to him multiple times to the beat. "Happy Birthday to you! You! You! You!" He then throws his hands in the air shakes them while hollering: "YAY!!!"

Nolan has a grimace at him. "Thank you..., shmooker."

Kale nods his head toward the aflamed cake. "Blow a wish, Pat!"

Nolan peers down at the calm, waving flames, rummaging mentally for a wish. He then closes his eyes, takes in a breath, and smoothy blows the air out from his mouth, extinguishing the flames.

"Awesome!" Reid exclaims, clapping.

"Wanna try out the cake?" Kale asks Nolan.

"Sure!" Nolan takes the cake knife that is on the surface and cuts the cake into equal slices. He then serves himself a piece on a saucer and takes a bite from it.

His eyes widen in awe as the warm, moist spongy bread melts in his mouth with notes of deep chocolate and fruity raspberries. "Mmmm!" He swallows and turns to the two. "Even BETTER! OH, THIS IS SO GOOD!" He takes another massive bite.

Reid serves himself a slice and takes a forkful of the cake. His eyebrows shoot up the sweet taste. "Wow, we can make good cake!"

Kale takes a bite from his own slice of cake. His face lights up at the delightful flavour. "This is a keeper!" He jabs his fork at the cake.

Nolan swallows and points his fork to the remainder of the cake. "I'm having this whole cake, no regrets."

"Hey, hockey season's coming up—" Kale reverts his fork at him with raised eyebrows. "Watch it."

Nolan picks up another piece from his fork. "It's gluten and dairy-free, so it's healthy." He winks before slipping the piece into his mouth.

"Well, now you got your cake and can eat it too!" Reid exclaims with a kooky grin.

Nolan swallows with a warm smile. "That's right. Thanks to you guys." Realization then comes across his face, fading his smile. "Wait, what happened to Carter?"

Kale and Reid slowly peer at each other, exchanging expressions anxious expressions: "Uhhhh..."

Back in Carter's kitchen, Carter is still lying on the floor with cake all over his mouth.

The End of Episode 9/10